Premier says not every community will get COVID-19 vaccination clinic
B.C. Premier John Horgan said Tuesday that not every community in the province will get a mass-vaccination clinic.
Horgan was responding to questions raised by the B.C. Liberals in the provincial legislature Tuesday over concerns from some provincial mayors that their communities will not have clinics.
Interim B.C. Liberal Leader Shirley Bond had raised concerns from Hope that it wouldn't have its own clinic, and from Delta, that its most populous North Delta area wouldn't have a clinic.
Hope, a community of 6,200, is 50 kilometres by road northeast of Chilliwack.
The communities' concerns are that residents would need to travel to get a vaccine, a particular concern for vulnerable and older residents, and one that has the potential to lessen participation.
“I cannot guarantee, as the member wants me to, that every community will have a vaccination centre, but I can commit that those in Phase 2, particularly the elderly and frail, will have access in their community,” Horgan responded.
Phase 2, which begins this month, will vaccinate those in B.C. aged 80-and-over, and Indigenous and Metis people aged 65-and-over. The rollout to the larger population won't begin until April.
Bond had said her party had heard from seniors, the frail and elderly, and their families, who are confused and worried about getting vaccines.
“They are afraid they will need to travel to get their vaccination,” Bond told the legislature.
Horgan said the province will take the Delta mayor's request under consideration.
But he noted that North Delta is right beside Surrey, where three locations have been set aside for mass vaccination clinics.
“Perhaps a geography lesson would be in order here,” he said.
Delta Mayor George Harvie
outlined his concerns in a letter, which he made public, to the Fraser Health Authority and copied to B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
Harvie noted he looked forward to the opening of a South Delta vaccination site but stressed a vaccination site in North Delta was essential. He noted that North Delta represents the largest percentage of Delta's population and isn't well-served by transit: “Having these systems in place will ensure the highest
level of vaccination participation, especially for Delta's most vulnerable population,” wrote Harvie.
The B.C. government has promised 172 mass-vaccination clinics will be set up throughout the province and expects to begin a large rollout of vaccine beginning in April. If apportioned by population, more than 100 clinics would be located in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
On Tuesday, the City of
Kamloops was the latest community to announce it was setting aside space at a curling rink and field house, and had also reserved space at a hockey rink if needed.
The curling rink at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, and a portion of the Tournament Capital Centre Fieldhouse, will be provided for seven months, longer if needed.